| Arnold–Simonton House | |
| Location: | 770 Clepper Drive, Montgomery, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates: | 30.3867°N -95.7011°W |
| Added: | December 11, 1979 |
| Delisted: | February 23, 2015 |
| Area: | less than one acre |
| Refnum: | 79002996 |
| Designated Other1 Name: | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
| Designated Other1 Abbr: | RTHL |
| Designated Other1 Color: |
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| Designated Other1 Link: | List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Mason-Rusk)#Montgomery County |
| Designated Other1 Date: | 1964 |
| Designated Other1 Number: | 7901 |
The Arnold–Simonton House is a historic house in Montgomery, Texas, United States. Built in 1845 by Epaphras Joseph Arnold, it is the oldest house in Montgomery.[1] It became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964 as the Frontier Colonial Home[1] and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979;[2] however, it was delisted in 2015. Today, it serves as the museum for the Fernland Historical Park.[3]
Epaphras Joseph Arnold[4] was a settler from Connecticut who arrived in Texas in 1835.[2] He settled in Montgomery, working as a physician, and originally built a log cabin on the site before replacing it with the current house in 1845; the old cabin became his office.[2] Arnold went on to become a member of the Medical Censors for the Republic of Texas, served as justice of the peace, and oversaw the establishment of Montgomery Academy.[4]
Following Arnold's death in 1858, the house passed to his daughter and son-in-law, Ludie and Reuben Simonton.[4] It remained in the Simonton family until 1976, when it was donated to the Montgomery Historical Society. The following year, it was moved to a lot on Rankin Street[2] and was used as the Montgomery City Hall. It was later moved to its current site at the Fernland Historical Park,[4] where it serves as a museum.[3]
In 1964, it became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.[1] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1979.[2]